Pomegranates are first mentioned in the Bible in Exodus 28:33–35 as part of God’s instructions for the making of priestly garments. God said,
“Make pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn around the hem of the robe, with gold bells between them. The gold bells and the pomegranates are to alternate around the hem of the robe. Aaron must wear it when he ministers.”
Later, brass pomegranate designs were featured prominently in the building of Solomon’s temple:
“On the capitals of both pillars, just above the rounded projection next to the network, were the two hundred pomegranates in rows encircling each capital” (1 Kings 7:20).
Interestingly, these ornate pomegranate sculptures were part of the plunder carried off to Babylon when the temple was destroyed (2 Kings 25:17; Jeremiah 52:22–23).
In Jewish tradition, the pomegranate is believed to hold special symbolism. Some believe that the fruit's 613 seeds represent the 613 laws in the Torah, while others see the pomegranate as a symbol of Israel. This view stems from the idea that, like the pomegranate's rugged exterior, the people of Israel have faced adversity but continue to provide blessings and enrichment to the world.
Did you know Israel is a close second to Silicon Valley in technology and has the most start-ups per capita in the world? Its innovations are transforming and enriching lives globally and playing a significant role in addressing major global challenges. Not only did our Jewish Savior come out of Israel - and that would have been enough but God continually blesses Israel.
God keeps His promises.
Many have been puzzled by the pomegranate's symbolism, and its specific reasons remain elusive. However, many believe that the pomegranate's intricate design and significance remind us that everything in God's creation has a purpose, as stated in Isaiah 46:9–11:
"Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. 10 I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’ 11 From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose. What I have said, that I will bring about; what I have planned, that I will do."